Fabrication and characterization of highly ordered zirconia nanowire arrays by sol–gel template method

• Published in: Materials chemistry and physics Vol. 80; no. 2; pp. 524 - 528
• Main Authors: Xu, Hui, Qin, Dong-Huan, Yang, Zhi, Li, Hu-Lin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 26.05.2003; Elsevier
• Subjects: Anodic aluminum oxide template; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Materials science; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Nanowire arrays; Physics; Sol–gel; Zirconia; Zirconia; Sol–gel; Anodic aluminum oxide template; Nanowire arrays; Transmission electron microscopy; Filaments; Nanotubes; Template reaction; XRD; Anodic oxide; Experimental study; Nanostructured materials; Sol-gel process; X-ray photoelectron spectra
• ISSN: 0254-0584; 1879-3312
• DOI: 10.1016/S0254-0584(03)00002-6

Highly ordered zirconia nanowire arrays are prepared by sol–gel synthesis within the pores of anodic alumina oxide (AAO) template membrane. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) are used to characterize the morphology and crystalloid structure of zirconia nanowire arrays. The length and diameter of the zirconia nanowires are dependent upon the pore diameter and the thickness of the applied AAO template. The results indicate that the zirconia nanowires are very uniformly assembled and parallel to each other in the pores of the AAO template. This new method of preparing zirconia nanowire with a large surface area may be important in applications ranging from gas sensors to various engineering materials.